U.S. patent application number 11/287332 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-15 for container inspection system with ct tomographic scanning function.
This patent application is currently assigned to Nuctech Company Limited. Invention is credited to Zhiqiang Chen, Yanjun Han, Haifeng Hu, Nan Jiang, Kejun Kang, Zhizhong Liang, Qitian Miao, Hua Peng, Shangmin Sun, Liming Wang, Yucheng Wu.
Application Number | 20060126772 11/287332 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36371572 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060126772 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hu; Haifeng ; et
al. |
June 15, 2006 |
Container inspection system with CT tomographic scanning
function
Abstract
A container inspection system with CT tomographic scanning
function, which is related to a large container inspection system
for Customs, is disclosed, comprising: a radiation source; an
annular rotatable rack with the radiation source provided at the
outside thereof and rotated with it; an annular rack body for
supporting the annular rotatable rack in a vertical plane; a
driving device for rotating the annular rotatable rack; a detector
array provided in the inner side of said annular rotatable rack and
opposed to a side where the radiation source is provided; a
transmission device passing through the annular rotatable rack and
annular rack body, and transmitting a container truck to be
detected in linear movement; a remote control device for
controlling the operations of the radiation source, the driving
device and the transmission device, and receiving/displaying the
image signal obtained by the detector array. Not only can general
inspection of the objects to be detected be undertaken, but also
does repeated tomographic inspection of suspicious locations within
the inspected objects, thus achieves effective accuracy improvement
of the contrabands detection.
Inventors: |
Hu; Haifeng; (Beijing,
CN) ; Miao; Qitian; (Beijing, CN) ; Wang;
Liming; (Beijing, CN) ; Kang; Kejun; (Beijing,
CN) ; Chen; Zhiqiang; (Beijing, CN) ; Wu;
Yucheng; (Beijing, CN) ; Sun; Shangmin;
(Beijing, CN) ; Han; Yanjun; (Beijing, CN)
; Peng; Hua; (Beijing, CN) ; Jiang; Nan;
(Beijing, CN) ; Liang; Zhizhong; (Beijing,
CN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KINNEY & LANGE, P.A.
THE KINNEY & LANGE BUILDING
312 SOUTH THIRD STREET
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55415-1002
US
|
Assignee: |
Nuctech Company Limited
Beijing
CN
Tsinghua University
Beijing
CN
|
Family ID: |
36371572 |
Appl. No.: |
11/287332 |
Filed: |
November 23, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
376/156 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 2223/643 20130101;
G01N 2223/419 20130101; G01V 5/005 20130101; G01N 23/046
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
376/156 |
International
Class: |
G21G 1/00 20060101
G21G001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 26, 2004 |
CN |
200410009890.9 |
Claims
1. A container inspection system with CT tomographic scanning
function, comprising: a radiation source for emitting a scanning
radiation beam; an annular rotatable rack with the radiation source
provided at an outside thereof and rotated with it; an annular rack
body for supporting said annular rotatable rack in a vertical
plane; a driving device for rotating said annular rotatable rack; a
detector array provided in an inner side of said annular rotatable
rack and opposed to a side where the radiation source is provided;
a transmission device passing through said annular rotatable rack
and annular rack body, and transmitting a container truck to be
detected in linear movement; and a remote control device for
controlling the operations of said radiation source, said driving
device and said transmission device, and receiving/displaying the
image signal obtained by said detector array.
2. A container inspection system according to claim 1, wherein,
said transmission device comprises a first transmission device and
a second transmission device, which form intermittent gaps at place
where the first and second transmission devices traverse said
annular rotatable rack.
3. A container inspection system according to claim 2, wherein, a
traction device is provided upon said first transmission device to
move said container truck linearly.
4. A container inspection system according to claim 2, wherein,
said first and second transmission devices are guide devices s
which can move synchronously and reciprocatingly.
5. A container inspection system according to claim 4, wherein,
said guide devices s is of a sheet type transporting chain
structure carried by multiple rows of cylindrical roller.
6. A container inspection system according to claim 1, wherein, a
corrector opposed to said radiation source is further fixed on the
outer face of said annular rotatable rack, a front collimator is
fixed at the inner side of the annular rotatable rack, the outside
of which is exactly confronted with the corrector, and a rear
collimator is provided in front of said detector array.
7. A container inspection system according to claim 1, wherein,
said driving device comprises a motor, a decelerator driven by said
motor, a spur gear driven by said decelerator, and an outer annular
gear engaged with the spur gear, wherein the outer annular gear is
fixed tightly on the outer wall of the annular rotatable rack.
8. A container inspection system according to claim 1, wherein,
said driving device comprises a motor, a decelerator driven by said
motor, a friction roller driven by said decelerator, and a friction
ring engaged with the friction roller, wherein the friction ring is
fixed tightly on the outer wall of the annular rotatable rack.
9. A container inspection system according to claim 1, wherein,
said radiation source is a linear electron accelerator or an
isotope.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a large container
inspection system for Customs, especially to a container inspection
system with CT tomographic scanning function.
TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND
[0002] Conventionally, a pulling container inspection system
emerged at the beginning of 90s', such as the large container
inspection systems manufactured by Haiman Corporation, Germany and
British Airspace Corporation. The above inspection systems are
devised as follows. A radiation source which is stationary and
produces high energy x-rays and detector array which receive x-rays
passing through the container are mounted in an inspection passage
which is capable of shielding radiation beams. A vehicle carrying
the container is pulled by a special pulling device so as to pass
by the inspection passage. When the container passes x-ray, x-ray
will transmit through the container and incident on the detectors.
As a result, the density distribution of the objects contained in
the container is presented according to the variation of the
intensity of the x-rays. Then, the intensity of the x-rays is
converted into a corresponding gray degree of an image so that a
perspective view of the objects contained in the container can be
obtained. A self-scanning radiation inspection system for large
scale objects is disclosed in Chinese Patent ZL 95103044.2,
comprising a radiation source, a collimating tower, tracks and a
scanning gantry. The radiation source provided on the track
reciprocates thereof, the collimating tower and detecting tower are
provided on another track, moving synchronously together with the
radiation source by a servo-motor. The large scale object to be
inspected is provided between the tracks of the collimating and
detecting towers, with beams from the radiation source passing
through the collimating tower and then entering into the detector
array of the detecting tower after penetrating through the
container, the detectors receiving the beams and outputting charges
which are transmitted to the image station after digital
conversion, thus obtaining the scenographic image of the objects in
the container.
[0003] The above-mentioned X-ray radiation imaging inspection
system usually moves only in one direction with respect to the
objects to be inspected due to the fixed configuration of the
detecting device, therefore, only scenographic image can be
obtained, rather than the tomographic image of a part in the object
to be inspected, which limites the inspection accuracy for complex
container cargo on a certain degree.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, the present invention has been made to overcome
the above mentioned problems, it is an object of the invention to
provide a container inspection system with CT tomographic scanning
function, which can detect the objects multi-dimensionally and
multi-view, thus improving the detection accuracy.
[0005] It is an aspect of the invention to provide a container
inspection system with CT tomographic scanning function, which can
undertake not only general inspection of detected objects, but also
repeatedly inspects suspicious locations of the inspected objects
tomographically, and thus achieves effective accuracy improvement
of the contrabands detection.
[0006] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
can be achieved by providing a container inspection system with CT
tomographic scanning function, comprising: a radiation source for
emitting scanning radiation beam; an annular rotatable rack with
the radiation source provided at the outside thereof and rotated
with it; an annular rack body for supporting said annular rotatable
rack in a vertical plane; a driving device for rotating said
annular rotatable rack; a detector array provided in the inner side
of said annular rotatable rack and opposed to a side where the
radiation source is provided; a transmission device passing through
said annular rotatable rack and annular rack body, and transmitting
a container truck to be detected in linear movement; a remote
control device for controlling the operations of said radiation
source, said driving device and said transmission device, and
receiving/displaying the image signal obtained by said detector
array.
[0007] In the above mentioned inspection system, said transmission
device comprises a first transmission device and a second
transmission device, which form intermittent gaps at place where
the first and second transmission devices traverse said annular
rotatable rack.
[0008] In the above mentioned inspection system, a traction device
is provided upon said first transmission device to move said
container truck linearly.
[0009] In the above mentioned inspection system, said first and
second transmission devices are guide devices which can move
synchronously and reciprocatingly.
[0010] In the above mentioned inspection system, said guide devices
are of a sheet type transporting chain structure carried by
multiple rows of cylindrical roller.
[0011] In the above mentioned inspection system, a corrector
opposed to said radiation source is further fixed on the outer side
of said annular rotatable rack, a front collimator is fixed at the
inner side of the annular rotatable rack 4, the outside of which is
exactly confronted with the corrector 2, and a rear collimator is
provided in front of said detector array.
[0012] In the above mentioned inspection system, said driving
device comprises a motor, a decelerator driven by said motor, a
spur gear driven by said decelerator, and an outer annular gear
engaged with the spur gear, wherein the outer annular gear is fixed
tightly on the outer wall of the annular rotatable rack.
[0013] In the above mentioned inspection system, said driving
device comprises a motor, a decelerator driven by said motor, a
friction roller driven by said decelerator, and a friction ring
engaged with the friction roller, wherein the friction ring is
fixed tightly on the outer wall of the annular rotatable rack.
[0014] In the above mentioned inspection system, said radiation
source is a linear electron accelerator or an isotope.
[0015] The general inspection can be undertaken when the
transmission device transports the container truck passing through
the annular rotatable rack, since the radiation source, the front
collimator, the rear collimator and detector array are all fixed
within the annular rotatable rack that can rotate. When suspicious
articles are found in the object to be inspected, the transmission
device is back off with the suspicious parts receded to a position
within the annular rotating rack, which is just the gap of the
transmission device, thus there is no any obstruction to the
articles being detected during scanning. Then, the annular
rotatable rack is activated to undertake CT tomographic scanning of
the suspicious parts, and the results of the inspection is much
more accurate. The present invention has the advantages of sound
design, easiness of manipulation, convenient maintenance and still
less area coverage, etc. compared to conventional art. Therefore,
it is an indispensable device for Customs inspecting large-sized
container.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from
the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in
conjunction with the accompany drawings, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of structural installation of the
present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a sectional view along A-A direction of FIG. 1
according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0019] FIG. 3 is a sectional view along A-A direction of FIG. 1
according to another embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Reference will no be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompany drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like
elements throughout. The embodiments are described below so as to
explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0021] As shown in FIG. 1-3, a container inspection system with CT
tomographic scanning function according to the present invention is
composed of a radiation source 1 for emitting X-ray radiation beam,
a annular rotating rack 4 with the radiation source 1 provided at
the outside thereof and rotated with it, an annular rack body 10
supporting the annular rotatable rack 4 in a vertical plane,
general bearing supporting structure 16 is preferably used, a
driving device 8 for driving the annular rotatable rack 4 to
rotate; a detector array 5 provided in the inner side of the
annular rotatable rack 4 and opposed to a side where the radiation
source 1 is provided; a transmission device 12 passing through the
annular rotatable rack 4 and annular rack body 10, and transmitting
a container truck to be detected in linear movement; a remote
control device 9 for controlling the operation of the radiation
source 1, the driving device 8 and the transmission device, the
remote control device 9 is often provided with a image acquisition
module, a operation detecting module, and an electrical controlling
module etc., and receives the image signal obtained by the detector
array 5, displaying in image accordingly after the processing of
the obtained signal. Since the image acquisition module, operation
detecting module, the mutual conversion between the image signals
of the detector array and electrical signals of the electrical
controlling module, and image display are prior art, repeated
description are omitted for brevity.
[0022] In the above-mentioned container inspection system,
preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, a corrector 2 opposed to the
radiation source is further fixed on the outer face of the annular
rotatable rack 4, a front collimator 3 is fixed at the inner side
of the annular rotatable rack 4, the outside of which is exactly
confronted with the corrector 2, and a rear collimator 6 is
provided in front of the detector array 5. Therefore, the whole
scanning system composed of the radiation source 1, the corrector
2, the front collimator 3, the rear collimator 6 and the detector
array 5 is provided upon the annular rotatable rack 4 and rotate
together with the annular rotatable rack 4 around the object to be
inspected, achieving the CT tomographic scanning of the object to
be inspected accordingly. The corrector 2, front collimator 3, rear
collimator 6 and detector array 5 are sequentially provide upon the
annular rotatable rack 4, the sizes of which are arranged so as to
be conformed to the sector shape formed by the X ray radiated from
the radiation source 1. Thus, the sectorial X ray emitted from the
radiation source 1 is exactly directed to the rear collimator 6 and
detector array 5 after passing the front collimator 3 and container
truck, the scanning signal obtained by the detector 5 is
transmitted to the remote control device 9 for processing and
displaying. The radiation source, preferably, is a linear electric
accelerator or an isotope.
[0023] The driving device 8 comprises a motor 18, a decelerator
driven by said motor 18, a spur gear (or a friction roller) driven
by said decelerator, and an outer annular gear (or a friction
roller) engaged with the spur gear (or the friction roller),
wherein the outer annular gear (or friction roller) is fixed
tightly on the outer wall of the annular rotatable rack. Therefore,
the motor 18 outputs power through the decelerator, the spur gear
driving the outer annular gear is connected to the output shaft of
the decelerator, thus rotating the annular rotatable rack 4. The
motor 18, preferably, is a reversible servo-motor, to drive the
outer annular gear in a predetermined range of revolving angle. The
annular rotatable rack 4 is supported by the annular rack body 10
fixed on the ground and is revolved in a vertical plane around a
fixed center by the driving device 8.
[0024] In the above mentioned inspection system, the transmission
device 12 comprises a first and second transmission device, which
form intermittent gaps 11 at a position where the first and second
transmission devices traverse the annular rotatable rack 4. The
annular rotatable rack 4 is provided in the longitudinal direction
of the intermittent gaps 11 to allow the container truck to be
inspected to pass therethrough for preventing radiation rays
produced by the radiation source from being obstructed during
tomographic scanning. In an embodiment of the invention, as shown
in FIG. 2, the first transmission device is provided with a
traction device 15, so that a truck 7 for drawing the container can
be pre-piloted onto the traction device 15, then the driver leaves
the cab in case of X-ray radiation to the driver during container
inspection, the traction device 15 draws the container truck 14 to
be inspected in linear movement on the first and second
transmission device, for general scanning and CT tomographic
scanning inspection. In this embodiment, the first and second
transmission device may be any ones which are used to support the
container truck 14 to be inspected to move thereon, for example,
guide rails, even fixed ground and the like.
[0025] In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in
FIG. 3, the first and second transmission devices are guide devices
17 that can move synchronously, and form intermittent gaps 11 at a
position where the first and second transmission devices traverse
the annular rotatable rack 4. The annular rotatable rack 4 is
provided in the longitudinal direction of the intermittent gaps 11
to allow the container truck to be inspected to pass therethrough.
The guide devices 17 can move reciprocally. Thus, general scanning
inspection can be undertaken by the transmission device carrying
the container truck through the annular rotatable rack 4 under the
control of the remote control device 9. When suspicious articles
are found in the object to be inspected, the transmission device is
controlled to be back off until the suspicious parts within the
container truck to be inspected are receded within the annular
rotating rack 4, the annular rotatable rack 4 is driven to
reversely rotate and undertakes CT tomographic scanning for the
suspicious parts. After inspection, the transmission device carries
the container truck to the exit of the scanning passage, of which
the truck is driven out, waiting for inspection results, meanwhile
the next inspection of a container truck can be undertaken
continuously. In the embodiments of the present invention, the
guide devices 17 preferably is of a sheet type transporting chain
structure carried by multiple rows of cylindrical roller, and are
preferably driven in a manner of general rail elevator.
[0026] Although preferred embodiments have been described, it would
be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present
invention may be made in any other mode without departing from the
principles and spirit of the invention.
* * * * *